Condé Nast UK To Invest More In iPad Apps

iPad magazine sales have often failed to live up to their early promise, but Condé Nast Digital Britain is nevertheless upping its investment in bringing its publications to Apple’s tablet.

The publisher announced on Friday that Wired UK will release monthly app editions for iPad starting with its May issue, with British GQ making its tablet debut on the App Store with its July issue. Meanwhile, Vogue UK is to receive more “special edition” iPad issues throughout the year.

The Wired and GQ apps will be overseen in house at Condé Nast, with GQ editor Dylan Jones and creative director Paul Solomons closely involved in the latter. Vogue UK’s app will be produced in partnership with Spring Studios and Six Creative, following the one-off app of the magazine’s December 2010 issue last year.

“Our Wired and Vogue December issue apps were a first toe in the water of our digital future on tablet devices,” said general manager Albert Read. “They were admired in the market and sold above expectations.”

Condé Nast says that the Wired issue sold more than 8,500 tablet issues, while Vogue sold more than 7,500. Read expects both to top the 10,000 mark eventually, though. Earlier this year, Condé Nast also experimented with a “cover exclusive” spin-off iPad app featuring Lady Gaga.

For now, the publisher is focusing on iPad and iPhone only, although its thoughts are turning to other devices such as the raft of Android tablets about to go on sale, and RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook. “Yes, we’re looking at other platforms, though nothing to release at this point,” Read told Apps Blog.

For now, the pricing model will remain one-off purchases, too. Apple’s recently introduced subscription billing system is also on Condé Nast’s agenda, but only if the terms are right, according to Read. “We’re in discussions with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) in the US about how we might reach a subs arrangement that suits both sides.”

The publisher will also launch 21 iPhone apps across seven of its magazine brands this year, including GQ, Glamour, Vogue and Wired.